In 2019 Archbishop Eamon Martin unveiled and blessed the bronze statue of Saint Oliver Plunkett in Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, Armagh, to honour all martyrs for the faith. The statue had been sculptured by Dublin-born artist Dony MacManus. Archbishop Martin said, “in this sculpture of Saint Oliver we see the face of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who humbly gave His life for us on the Cross.”
You, or a representative, are invited to attend the annual procession in Drogheda of the holy relics of Saint Oliver Plunkett. A larger crowd is expected this year as it marks 400 years since the birth of Saint Oliver, and 2025 is also the golden anniversary of Saint Oliver’s canonisation by Pope Paul VI in Rome in 1975. Details:
When from 3.00pm this Sunday, 6 July 2025.
Where procession begins at the Holy Family Church, Drogheda, and will conclude with Mass at 4.00pm in Saint Peter’s Church, Drogheda.
Who Primate of All Ireland Archbishop Eamon Martin of Armagh; Canon Eugene Sweeney, parish priest of Saint Peter’s Church, Drogheda; local community groups; parishioners, and clergy.
Media Martin Long of the Catholic Communications Office will be in attendance for media queries.
Archbishop Martin has designated Saint Peter’s Church as a ‘Jubilee Church’ for this holy year of 2025 – themed ‘Pilgrims of Hope’ by Pope Francis – alongside Saint Patrick’s Cathedral in Armagh city.
Background
On Sunday 6 July, Drogheda, Co Louth, in the Archdiocese of Armagh, will witness all of the pageantry of ‘The Saint Oliver Procession’, concluding with the celebration of Mass. This annual procession will make its way from Holy Family Church at 3 o’clock and cross the River Boyne moving from the Diocese of Meath to the Archdiocese of Armagh, arriving at Saint Peter’s Church in West Street, where Mass will be concelebrated at the national shrine of Saint Oliver at 4.00pm. Archbishop Martin, the 23rd successor to Saint Oliver as Archbishop of Armagh, will be the chief celebrant and homilist at the Mass. Saint Peter’s Church is the location of the National Shrine and memorial church of Saint Oliver Plunkett where his head and some bone-relics are preserved for veneration by the faithful.
Saint Oliver Plunkett (1 November 1625 – 1 July 1681) was the Catholic Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland. While 2025 is a special anniversary year, nonetheless each year celebrations commemorating Saint Oliver take place at his birthplace in front of the ruins of the old church at Loughcrew, Oldcastle, Co Meath; at his shrine in Drogheda, Co Louth, and at other places associated with him throughout Ireland and the world. Having studied at the Irish College in Rome, and worked at the Vatican’s Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples, in 1669 he was appointed Archbishop of Armagh by Pope Clement IX. Archbishop Oliver Plunkett maintained his duties in Ireland in the face of persecution and was arrested and tried for treason in London. He was hanged, drawn and quartered at Tyburn on 1 July 1681. He became the last Catholic martyr to die in England. Oliver Plunkett was beatified in 1920 and canonised by Saint Pope Paul VI in 1975 – the first new Irish saint for almost seven hundred years.
ENDS